Published: Monday, April 22, 2013 at 7:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 22, 2013 at 7:18 p.m.

Two high school seniors, armed with potential and dreams for the future, were awarded scholarships totaling $4,000 from the Civitan Club of Hendersonville Monday afternoon at The Chariot.

The club's scholarship program has awarded more than $260,000 to college-bound graduates over its 55-year history in the community. Scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to Monday's winners, Kaitlyn Maddox and Stephanie Smith, to attend the university of their choice.

The awards recognize a student's contribution to the community through good citizenship and encourage academic excellence, traits held in esteem by the Civitans, who live by the Golden Rule.

Smith, a senior at East Henderson High, plans to attend UNC-Charlotte in the fall to major in Business Marketing with a minor in Spanish. Her dream is to one day work for the Carolina Panthers.

“To my mom, I want to thank you for molding me and making me into the person that I am today. I'll always be your little girl, but you didn't raise me to stay at home. Now's my time to fly,” Smith told her mother during the Civitan Scholarship Awards ceremony, fighting back tears.

The eyes of her mother, Cathy Smith, pooled as well as she hugged her daughter.

In the wake of rising tuition fees, Stephanie Smith and Maddox said college is a dream coming true for them thanks to the help of scholarships such as the ones they received from the Civitans.

Stephanie Smith said she cried “tears of joy” when she learned that she had received the Civitan award. She is a leading scorer on the basketball court, setting school and district records, and was named the Times-News' Player of the Year three years in a row.

After four years of basketball, Smith said she has learned that “life isn't about wins or losses. It's about how you can impact people and how you can influence their life. It's about living your life with honor and integrity and just carrying yourself in a way that people can look up to you. My parents have always told me to be someone different, stand out, don't follow the crowd.”

Smith has served on two “life-changing mission trips” with her church, Mud Creek Baptist, in inner-city New York and Honduras, where she said she learned not to take anything for granted.

“I would like to thank my sister Lashea for always being there to help me and support me. You're my hero,” she said.

Smith has a 4.39 GPA and is also active in her school's Interact Club, National Honor Society and Culinary Club. She is the daughter of Cathy and Reese Smith and sister to Lashea Rogers, Scott Smith, Reese Smith and Shannon Rose.

Maddox, a senior of North Henderson High, plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall to major in Biology and Exercise Science on her way to becoming an orthopedic surgeon. She is ranked second in her class and maintains a 4.87 GPA while serving as co-captain of her basketball team at school.

Maddox said she channeled her energy into sports when her family moved from the only home she had known in Bradenton, Fla. to Fletcher in November 2007. On the field of competition (basketball, volleyball and track), she learned to wrap her own ankle and found a passion for orthopedics when she recently underwent two surgeries to remove plica — remaining fetal tissue — from her knees.

Maddox thanked the Civitans for their support in her future endeavors.

“I once heard that big goals anticipate big dollars, so it's going to take a long time because I'll be in school another 8-10 years,” she said as her audience laughed.

Maddox is active in her school's National Honor Society and volunteers at Biltmore Baptist. She is the daughter of Amy and Randy Maddox and is sister to Cody Maddox.

Maddox and Smith will receive checks of $500 each to use in each of their four semesters at college. The scholarship awards are funded through proceeds from several Civitan projects throughout the year, including the sale of Claxton Fruit Cakes in November and December.

The Civitan Club is accepting new members. The club meets at 11:30 a.m. for a luncheon on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Chariot, corner of Seventh Avenue West and Church Street in Hendersonville.

Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.

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